Tag Archives: winter solstice

THE SHORTEST DAY ~ SUSAN COOPER

So the shortest day came, and the year died,And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white worldCame people singing, dancing,To drive the dark away.They lighted candles in the winter trees;They hung their homes with evergreen;They burned beseeching fires all night longTo keep the year alive,And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awakeThey shouted, reveling.Through all the frosty ages you can hear themEchoing behind us – Listen!!All the long echoes sing the same delight,This shortest day,As promise wakens in the sleeping land:They carol, fest, give thanks,And dearly love their friends,And hope for peace.And so do we, here, now,This year and every year.Welcome Yule!!

I love this poem and, for me, it sums up everything about the winter solstice.

I love the Solstice days (shortest and longest) because of what they bring…dark and light. If I’m completely honest I prefer the summer months because they make life easier around our place…yes it sometimes means we have to irrigate when the summer months are hot and dry but I prefer that to the wet and mud of the winter..although I like the winter months for what they do with the land.

Today we went to friends to see in the shortest day. We wrapped up warm prepared for another chilly night…to my surprise it was surprisingly warm really. So our punched tin candle holders were able to burn once more….and one very happy 5 year old….that’s my Solstice right there.

Another collaboration with the menu ..

Gluhwein to start off the proceedings

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Pate (Chicken, Venison and Lamb) for the carnivores among us

Baba Ganoush for our vegetarian friends

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Roast Lamb (Stewy)

Slow cooked Leg of Goat (Josh)

Roast Chicken (Alan)

Roast Beetroot

Couscous with Roast Vegetables

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Sticky Toffee Pudding

Mince pies

Christmas Pudding

Orkney Fudge Cheesecake

We came home at around 9pm with one very tired child (he’s off school at the moment as he’s got a cold but really didn’t want to miss out on the “feast”). It was a lovely evening although dear Mother Nature had the last word with a lovely big shake at just after 10.30pm….Cheers me dear…lest we forget who is really in charge x x x